New Delhi: India has allowed shipment of up to 15,000 tonnes of non-aromatic rice to Nepal, partly easing the ban on exports of the foodgrain. “Ban on export of non-basmati rice shall not be applicable to export of 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes to Nepal," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said. The shipment of non-basmati rice could be made only through state-run trading firm State Trading Corp. of India Ltd (STC), which has been asked to ensure that the export does not affect rice prices in the domestic market.

The commerce ministry has directed STC to source the exported quantity from more than one state to avoid price disturbances. The firm would buy the rice from millers with surplus stock, it said.

Export of non-basmati rice was banned from 1 April as a measure to control inflation. But India has allowed exports to a few African countries citing humanitarian reasons.

Besides, the commerce ministry also allowed two export-oriented units from Pondicherry and Andhra Pradesh to ship 25,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice in the 2008-09 season.